AU5418401A - Collapsible caravan - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: WINDSOR CARAVANS PTY LTD Invention Title: COLLAPSIBLE CARAVAN o The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 COLLAPSIBLE CARAVAN This invention relates to a collapsible caravan.

Collapsible caravans are well known and generally comprise systems in which the roof of a caravan can be raised from a storage position allowing the caravan to be of reduced size for towing, to an erected condition in which the roof is raised to enable access to the interior of the caravan.

Many different designs of collapsible caravans are known.

However, in conventional designs either the caravan is only collapsible to a very small degree or, if collapsible to a large degree the internal structure of the caravan is almost non-existent.

The present invention provides a collapsible caravan, including; a pair of side walls; a front wall; a rear wall; and at least one internal structural member; the side walls being formed in at least two parts so that one part of each side wall is pivotable relative to the other part of the side wall so that one part of the side wall can be pivoted from an erected position to a collapsed position; said internal structure being moveable from a erected condition to a stowed condition within the caravan; said front and rear walls being pivotal from an erected position to a collapsed position to enable the roof to move from a raised position to a collapsed position.

Preferably the at least one internal structure includes at least one of; a kitchen unit; a vanity unit; and an internal wall member.

H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 3 Preferably an internal wall member forms part of a closet or wardrobe.

Preferably the kitchen unit includes a cook top and at least one cupboard and is moveable from the erected position to the stowed position by pivoting the vanity unit relative to one of the walls of the caravan and tilting an upper portion of the kitchen unit relative to the remainder of the kitchen unit so that the kitchen unit collapses towards the floor of the caravan.

Preferably the kitchen unit is coupled to the wall by struts to facilitate pivotal movement of the kitchen unit and tilting of the upper portion of the kitchen unit.

Preferably the wardrobe is realisably coupled to one of the side walls of the caravan and is pivotable from an upright position to a generally horizontal position.

Preferably a plurality of cupboards are releasably mounted to the walls by releasable connection means so that the cupboards can be removed from the walls and stowed prior to collapsing of the walls and roof.

Preferably the front and rear walls have an upper portion moveably coupled relative to the roof for sliding movement relative to the roof so that when the front and rear walls are pivoted from the upright position to the collapsed position the upper portion of the end walls remain engaged 0 30 with the roof and slide relative to the roof to enable the roof to lower down onto the end walls.

Preferably the vanity unit is mounted for sliding movement from a raised position to a lowered position.

Preferably the vanity unit includes a basin which is pivotably moveable from a stowed position to an outwardly H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHW .doc 3/07/01 4 projecting position where the basin can be used by a user.

Preferably a vanity cupboard is releasably mounted above the vanity unit so that the vanity cupboard can be disconnected from the wall of the caravan.

Preferably the caravan includes a toilet which includes a wall, said wall having a plurality of segments, each segment being pivotably coupled os that the wall can be folded about the pivotal couplings into a stowed position.

Preferably at least one of the side walls includes a door, said door being formed in two parts so that when one part of the side wall is pivoted from the upright position to the collapsed position, one part of the door also pivots from an upright position to a collapsed position.

Preferably the pivotal coupling between the parts of the respective side walls are at different heights relative to one another so that one side wall can be folded to the collapsed position and the other side wall folded onto the said one side wall.

Preferably the caravan includes an internal light, and power supply means for supplying power to the internal light, said power supply means being switched off when at least one of the end walls is moved from the erected ooeo position to the collapsed position, and switched on when at least one of the end walls is moved from the collapsed 30 position to the erected position to thereby provide light within the caravan during erection of the caravan.

S.

Preferably the power supply means includes a connection box so that when the said one of the side walls is in the erected position the connection box forms an electrical connection between a power supply through the wall and through the roof to thereby supply power to the light.

H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECAPAVAN-SHW. doc 3/07/01 5 The invention may also be said to reside in a collapsible caravan including; side walls; a roof, said roof being moveable from an erected position to a collapsed position to enable the caravan to be placed in a collapsed condition; a kitchen unit in the caravan, said kitchen unit including a cook-top, said kitchen unit being pivotably coupled to the caravan so that the kitchen unit can move from an upright position to a collapsed position about the pivotal coupling.

Preferably the kitchen unit includes an upper portion which is pivotally coupled to the remainder of the kitchen unit so that the upper portion can tilt relative to the remainder of the kitchen unit so that the upper portion remains in a substantially horizontal position after collapse of the kitchen unit.

Preferably the kitchen unit is supported by struts which facilitate pivotal movement of the kitchen unit from a erected position to a collapsed position.

i" The invention may also be said to reside in a collapsible caravan including; side walls; a roof moveable from a raised position to a lower position to allow collapsing of the caravan; 30 at least one internal wall within the caravan, said internal wall being formed in a plurality of segments, each segment being coupled to an adjacent segment by a hinge to enable pivotal movement of the segments relative to one another so that the wall can be collapsed by pivoting the segments relative to one another to place with wall in a collapsed condition.

The invention may also be said to reside in a collapsible H: \bourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECmVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 6 caravan including; side walls; a roof, said roof being moveable from a raised position to a lowered position to facilitate collapsing of the caravan; a wall mounted unit; track means on the wall for mounting the unit to the wall and allowing the unit to move from a raised position to a lower position in the track means to move the unit from a raised to a stowed position.

Preferably the wall mounted unit is a vanity unit.

Preferably a vanity cupboard is releasably coupled to the wall above the vanity unit so that the vanity cupboard can be released from the wall and stowed.

The invention may also be said to reside in a collapsible caravan including; side walls; a roof, said roof being moveable from a raised position to a lowered position to facilitate collapsing of the caravan; a cupboard; pivotally coupling means for pivotally coupling the cupboard relative to a wall of the caravan so that the cupboard can be pivoted from an upright position to a lowered position.

The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is an end view of a caravan embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a side of the caravan of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view in a partly collapsed condition; H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\P3881-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHWdoc 3/07/01 7 Figure 12 is a side view in a partly collapsed condition; Figure 5 is a view showing further collapsing of the caravan; Figure 6 is a view of the fully collapsed caravan; Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9 and Figure 10 are internal details showing collapsing or stowing of structure within the caravan;and Figures 11, 12 and 13 show further collapsing and stowing of structure within the caravan; The drawings show a caravan which can be collapsed for towing or storage and which can then be erected so that the caravan can be occupied by a user. The preferred embodiment of the invention concerns the manner in which the caravan can be converted from the collapsed position to the extended position and vice versa and should be understood that conventional features of the caravan such as the chassis, towbar and other facilities do not form 9part of the invention and therefore will not be disclosed in this specification.

o With reference to Figures 1 to 4, the caravan 10 is collapsed from an erected position to a collapsed position by firstly folding side walls 12 about hinges 12b so that side wall parts 12a can pivot inwardly towards the caravan as shown in Figure 1 by arrows A and dotted lines marked 12a. One of the side walls 12a has a door 20 which is 30 formed in two parts 20a and 20b. The two parts 20a and can be held together by a fastener but during collapsing of the relevant wall the fastener is released so that the part is separate from the part 20 and can move with the wall part 12 into the collapsed position. Line 20c shows the divide between the door parts 12a and 12b. The wall part 12a is collapsed relative to the remainder of the wall 12 by moving part 12a about hinge 12b.

H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 8 Front and rear walls 14 and 18 also have wall parts 14a and 18a which are coupled to the remainder of the walls 14 and 18 by hinges 14b and 18b. The wall parts 14a and 18a are coupled at their upper portion to roof 16 but are moveable relative to the roof 16 so that the wall part 14a can pivot in the direction of arrow C in Figure 4 into a collapsed position with the upper part of the wall part 14a sliding in tracks 80 on the roof 16. A strut 19 supports movement of the wall 14a as the wall moves from the raised condition to the collapsed condition. As best shown in Figures 2 and 4 the roof 16 has side flanges 16a and 16b and end flanges 16c which project downwardly from upper surface 16d of the roof 16. The tracks 80 are formed on the flanges 16b and the walls 14a and 18a have rollers 82 which are arranged in each of the tracks to facilitate movement of the walls 14a and 18c and collapsing of the roof 16 onto the folded walls 12a.

As best shown in Figure 5 the wall 14a is firstly collapsed so that the roof 16 is angled and supported at one end by the erected wall 18. The wall part 18a is then collapsed in the direction of arrow D so that the roof 16 lowers down onto the wall parts 14a, 18a and also the wall parts 12a and rests on the walls 12.

Figure 6 shows the caravan in the fully collapsed position S"with the roof 16 lowered down completely so it rests on the walls 12 with the wall parts 12a and the end wall part 14a and end wall part 18a being folded internally within the 30 caravan.

Before the side walls 12a and end walls 14a and 18a are folded into the collapsed position internal structure within the caravan needs to be collapsed or stowed.

The internal structure includes a bathroom or toilet area shown in Figures 7 to 10. This area includes a toilet H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHWdoc 3/07/01 9 and a vanity unit 32 which is mounted on end wall 18 for example. The vanity unit 32 includes a sink part 34 which is pivotal outwardly from a stowed position to a position where the basin can be filled and used as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. In order to stow the vanity unit 32 the basin is moved to the stowed position by pivoting the basin in the direction of arrow E about pivot pin 84 so the basin is received within unit 32. The vanity unit 32 then slides downwardly in the direction of arrow F in Figure 7 so that it stows behind the toilet unit 30. The toilet room includes a wall 40 which is formed in three segments 35, 36 and 37 which are hinged together by hinges 41 and 43. In order to collapse the wall 40 the hinge sections 35 and 36 are moved in the direction of arrows G and H shown in Figure 8 into the position shown in Figure 10. Thus, the internal wall 40 is now folded and stowed above the stowed vanity unit 32 and the toilet As best shown in Figures 9 and 10 the wall 12a of the caravan includes two rails 39 on which the vanity unit 32 is mounted for sliding movement. The rails extend above and below the hinge 12b and obviously separated at the hinge 12b so the wall part 12a can move relative to the *wall part 12 as previously described. The rails 39 above and below the hinge 12b are aligned so that the vanity unit can slide on the rails 39 from the raised position shown in Figures 7 and 8 to the lowered and stowed position shown in Figures 9 and The toilet area may employ a vanity cupboard 70 which can be removed from the side wall 12 by unclipping as will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 13.

Figures 11 to 13 show stowing of a kitchen which can include a sink and/or hot plates 50. A kitchen unit 49 is pivotally coupled about a pivot point 51 and is pivotally moveable in the direction of arrow J in Figure 11. The H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHWdoc 3/07/01 10 unit 49 has an upper portion 53 on which the sink and or hot plate area 50 is secured and which is pivoted by a pivot 54 to the remainder of the unit 49. A gas strut supports pivotal movement of the unit 49 in the direction of arrow M in Figure 12. The gas strut 55 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 85 and the other end of the link 85 is pivotally connected to upper portion 53. As the unit 49 is pivoted in the direction of arrow M the upper portion 53 can pivot around pivot point 54 to remain generally in a horizontal condition when the unit 49 is stowed as shown in Figure 13. The link 85 supports the upper portion 53 and holds it in a horizontal position as the unit pivots about pivot pin 51.

Figures 11 and 12 show stowing of a wardrobe 60. The wardrobe 60 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 61 and is moveable in the direction of arrow N into the position shown by reference 60' in Figure 12 where the wardrobe 14 rests generally on the floor of the caravan.

Figure 13 shows how the vanity cupboard (and other cupboards within the caravan) can be dismantled from the walls 12 (or walls 14 and 18). The wall 12 of the caravan includes rails 90 of generally L-shaped configuration and cupboards 70 include a generally inverted L-shaped bracket 74 which fits into the rail 90 to releasabley secure the cupboard 70 to the walls 12, 14 and 18. Thus, any number of cupboards can be mounted around the wall 12 etc and removed by disconnecting the rail 90 from the bracket 74 and stowing the cupboards 70 on the floor of the caravan.

Some of the cupboards 70 may include a power supply and if so a power lead (not shown) may extend from the cupboard and connect into a power socket within the wall 12, 14 or 18 of the caravan.

As best shown in Figure 4, the wall part 14a may also include a connection box 75 for a power supply which H: \.bourke\Keep\Speci\P3881-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 11 connects into a connection box 73 on the roof 16 when the wall 14a is in the erected position. Thus, when the wall is pivoted into the stowed position the connection box disconnects to cut off power to the caravan. However, when the caravan returns to the erected position the connection box 75 connects with the connection box 73 to supply power to the caravan assuming that the connection box 75 is powered through a power supply circuit back to a vehicle or the like.

The walls 12 and also the walls 14 and 18 may include catches (not shown) at an upper portion which coupled with the roof 16 when the walls and roof are in the extended position to assist in holding the caravan in the erected condition.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, erection and collapsing of the caravan will now be described in further detail.

1. Apply handbrake and lower jockey wheel.

S2. Disconnect breakaway cable and both electrical connectors from car, also stabiliser if fitted.

3. Un-coupled from car by pressing trigger located beneath the handgrip of the coupling handle, at the same time push handle forward and raise caravan by winding the telescopic jockey wheel anti-clockwise.

4. Making sure the caravan is reasonably level (both side to side and for and aft), lower the four corners steadies until they are just touching the ground. This is important, as, due to the low gearing of the corner steadies adjustment, it is possible, at this stage, to ver tighten and cause sufficient distortion on the body to make erection difficult.

H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 12 Remove padlocks or securing clips, which are being used to retain the roof catches in the locked position, release the pressure on the REAR roof catches.

DO NOT at this stage completely un-clip them.

6. Starting at the FRONT, un-latch the two catches retaining the roof in the locked position.

7. Holding the front of the roof, raise evenly to head height and, retaining the roof position with the one hand, complete raising by pulling on handle located above or at the side of the window. If will be found, that when the wall is half way up, it will tend to lift on its own and it is therefore advisable to steady the wall so that it does not rise too fast, however, the wall should come up as far as possible. Give a final tug on handle to make sure front wall is all the way up.

8. Now got the REAR of the caravan, completely unlatch the two retaining catches, raise the roof vertically and once above shoulder height, take the grab handle on the rear wall and while continuing to push the roof up, pull S" the rear wall towards you to get the wall into position.

25 Position the safety catch located on tope section of rear wall into metal retainer located on flange of roof. Gently tighten rear catch.

.o.e.i 9. Proceed to FRONT of the caravan, and ensure that the brackets on each side on the front of the roof, are located inside of the brackets fitted on the front wall. If by some chance the roof bracket has jumped over the wall brackets, it can be rectified by lowering the rear wall, ensuring at the same time someone holds the handle on the front wall and repeat stage 8.

Proceed to nearside of caravan, where door is situated, open top half of door back onto sidewall, then H: bourke\Keep\Speci\P3810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-5HW.doc 3/07/01 13 open bottom half of stable door and step into doorway.

11. Partly close bottom half of door behind you.

Raise door sidewall up and over head to meet roof, secure into place at front by turnbuckle catch on end wall and at centre of sidewall. Pressure may have to be applied to compress seals.

12. Raise offside wall in similar manner ensuring that both centre and front turnbuckle catches lock side into position. If corner catches are particularly tight to fasten, push out the end wall and push in the sidewall to, assist in locating. Also tightening and slackening of the diagonal corner steadies may assist in certain situations.

You are inside the caravan the final stages have to be carried out.

1. Raise wardrobe and fix into position with the Protex catch fitted on each side.

2. Secure drop flap on base of wardrobe.

o 3. Raise kitchen unit into position. This is carried out by placing hand on rear of unit and raising until resistance is felt, then using handle at front and at the same time supporting the back, lift unit up and into o0 position above refrigerator housing.

30 4. Position the rear mattresses, take the freestanding table and stand to one side. Locate wall cupboards into their various position around the caravan, these are fixed by means of matching channels fitted both on walls and cupboards.

The freestanding table can be erected and placed between the settees.

H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVANSHW.doc 3/07/01 14 6. Before locating the rear and front hanging cupboards, firstly fasten rear corner turnbuckle catches.

Also connect up the 12v plugs into the 12v sockets on the rear/front wall to enable use of the halogen spotlamps built into the base of the cupboards.

7. Locate table, mattresses and backrests into position.

8. Lift front mattresses, take out table and fit into position. N.B. The wooden sections to make up the double bed at the rear are located in one of the bed lockers.

9. A curtain rail is supplied and fitted on the ceiling across the forward section of the caravan to which a curtain can be fitted (not supplied as standard). This allows privacy between the two sleeping areas.

10. Final adjustment is now required to the four corner steadies to ensure the caravan is firm, steady and level.

o

COLLAPSING

1. Before folding, ensure the caravan has been Sdisconnected from the mains supply. Check that the refrigerator is switched to the 12v position (turn off if cooling is not required) and ensure handbrake is applied.

2. Remove wall cupboards from their various position and place between the settees.

3. Release four rear end corner turnbuckle catches (two each side).

4. Place freestanding table on top of offside rear H: \mborke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 15 settee.

Place one backrest between mattress's on top of the wall cupboards and the other on the nearside rear settee.

6. Release front offside turnbuckle catch.

7. Place front table on locating ledges between settee's and arrange mattresses and backrests as for sleeping.

8. Lower sink unit, then lower kitchen unit by placing hand on handle provided, pull towards you, at the same time, place the other hand on rear of unit to steady whilst lowering. Ensure that the protection pad provided is place beneath the unit to protect the carpet. Once the unit is safely lowered to the floor, push down on the rear so that the kitchen unit is now flat on the floor. Put the timber support under side of the hob unit and floor to give extra support of kitchen during travel.

o S 9. Lower drop flap on base of wardrobe.

25 10. Lower wardrobe down on top of kitchen unit ensuring that the protection pad provided is placed between to edge of wardrobe and the top of the kitchen unit.

11. Any additional items stored in the caravan must still allow the side walls to be lowered to rest on a bolster at each end of the caravan position on the front and rear nearside settees. The wall will also rest on the back of the wardrobe. Release centre offside turnbuckle catch and lower offside wall.

12. Release the front and then centre nearside turnbuckle catches and lower the nearside, allowing it to H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECRAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 16 rest gently on the opposite wall. N.B. Make sure lower part of entrance door is not latched to top part.

13. Close and latch bottom half of stable door and gently close the top half of the door.

14. Proceed to the REAR of the caravan and release the safety catch. Locate rear window protection vinyl pad supplied. Push on handle provided above window on rear wall unit you are able to obtain a hold on the roof, lower the roof, and at the same time pull roof towards you until resistance is felt. This is most important because fi this operation is carried out incorrectly the stainless steel catch on the centre end of the roof will damage the rear wall of the caravan. Clip on roof catches but do not, at this stage, lock down.

Proceed to the FRONT of the caravan and pull on the front wall. When this is half way down, place hands on the roof and lower down to the closed position. Pull roof o forward slightly and clip on the roof catches but do not lock down.

g 16. To help increase the life of the roof seals and 25 to give an extra seal when driving in heavy rain, simply walk around your Carousel and flip down the seal onto the base walls, particularly at the front and sides. You may find it easer to loosen off the roof catches to carry out is operation. When pulling the side seals down, start in the middle of the roof and work left and right.

17. Go to the REAR of the caravan and lock down the S. *b S° two rear catches. If is important before moving that the roof catches are secured either by means of padlocks or security clips and then do the same at the front also securing with padlocks or security clips.

H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\P3881-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 17 18. Raise corner steadies and the caravan is then ready to couple up to the towing vehicle.

19. Turn off gas supply at cylinder.

Check tyre pressure by means of an accurate pressure gauge and check wheel nuts are tightened.

21. Couple up and double check hitch is secure as previously indicated. Raise jockey wheel.

22. Secure safety breakaway cable as previously indicated.

23. Release handbrake.

24. Connect the 7 pin plugs and check road lights are in working order on both car and caravan.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of 0 00 ""example hereinabove.

00** 0 *o 0 ft H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SI*Jdoc 3/07/01

Claims (19)

1. A collapsible caravan, including: a pair of side walls; a front wall; a rear wall; and at least one internal structural member; the side walls being formed in at last two parts so that one part of each side wall is pivotable relative to the other part of the side wall so that one part of the side wall can be pivoted from an erected position to a collapsed position; said internal structure being moveable from an erected condition to a stowed condition within the caravan; said front and rear walls being pivotal from an erected position to a collapsed position to enable the roof to move from a raised position to a collapsed position.

2. The caravan of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal structure includes at least one of: 20 a kitchen unit; I: a vanity unit; and an internal wall member.

3. The caravan of claim 2, wherein the internal wall member forms part of a closet or wardrobe. 25 4. The caravan of claim 2, wherein the kitchen unit includes a cook top and at least one cupboard and is moveable from the erected position to the stowed position by pivoting the vanity unit relative to one of the walls of the caravan and tilting an upper portion of the kitchen 30 unit relative to the remainder of the kitchen unit so that the kitchen unit collapses towards the floor of the caravan. The caravan of claim 4, wherein the kitchen unit is coupled to the wall by H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 19 struts to facilitate pivotal movement of the kitchen unit and tilting of the upper portion of the kitchen unit.

6. The caravan of claim 2, wherein the wardrobe is realisably coupled to one of the side walls of the caravan and is pivotable from an upright position to a generally horizontal position.

7. The caravan of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a plurality of cupboards are releasably mounted to the walls by releasable connection means so that the cupboards can be removed from the walls and stowed prior to collapsing of the walls and roof.

8. The caravan of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the front and rear walls have an upper portion moveably coupled relative to the roof for sliding movement relative to the roof so that when the front and rear walls are pivoted from the upright position to the collapsed position the upper portion of the end walls remain engaged with the roof and slide relative to the roof to enable the roof to lower down onto the end walls.

9. The caravan of claim 2, wherein the vanity unit is mounted for sliding movement from a raised position to a lowered position. The caravan of claim 9, wherein the vanity unit includes a basin which is pivotably moveable from a stowed position to an outwardly projecting position where the basin can be used by a user.

11. The caravan of claim 10, wherein a vanity cupboard is releasably mounted above the vanity unit so that the vanity cupboard can be disconnected from the wall 30 of the caravan.

12. The caravan of any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the caravan includes a toilet which includes a wall, said wall having a plurality of segments, each segment being pivotably coupled os that the wall can be folded about the pivotal couplings into a stowed position.

13. The caravan of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 20 at least one of the side walls includes a door, said door being formed in two parts so that when one part of the side wall is pivoted from the upright position to the collapsed position, one part of the door also pivots from an upright position to a collapsed position.

14. The caravan of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the pivotal coupling between the parts of the respective side walls are at different heights relative to one another so that one side wall can be folded to the collapsed position and the other side wall folded onto the said one side wall. The caravan of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the caravan includes an internal light, and power supply means for supplying power to the internal light, said power supply means being switched off when at least one of the end walls is moved from the erected position to the collapsed position, and switched on when at least one of :i the end walls is moved from the collapsed position to the **erected position to thereby provide light within the caravan during erection of the caravan.

16. The caravan of claim 15, wherein the power supply means includes a connection box so that when the said one of the side walls is in the erected position the connection box forms an electrical connection between a power supply "25 through the wall and through the roof to thereby supply power to the light. .S17. A collapsible caravan including; side walls; a roof, said roof being moveable from an erected 30 position to a collapsed position to enable the caravan to be placed in a collapsed condition; a kitchen unit in the caravan, said kitchen unit including a cook-top, said kitchen unit being pivotably coupled to the caravan so that the kitchen unit can move from an upright position to a collapsed position about the pivotal coupling.

18. The caravan of claim 17, wherein the kitchen unit H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 21 includes an upper portion which is pivotally coupled to the remainder of the kitchen unit so that the upper portion can tilt relative to the remainder of the kitchen unit so that the upper portion remains in a substantially horizontal position after collapse of the kitchen unit.

19. The caravan of claim 17 or 18, wherein the kitchen unit is supported by struts which facilitate pivotal movement of the kitchen unit from a erected position to a collapsed position.

20. A collapsible caravan including; side walls; a roof moveable from a raised position to a lower position to allow collapsing of the caravan; at least one internal wall within the caravan, said internal wall being formed in a plurality of segments, each segment being coupled to an adjacent segment by a hinge to enable pivotal movement of the segments relative to one another so that the wall can be collapsed by pivoting the segments relative to one another to place with wall in a collapsed condition.

21. A collapsible caravan including; side walls; a roof, said roof being moveable from a raised .oooo position to a lowered position to facilitate collapsing of the caravan; a wall mounted unit; track means on the wall for mounting the unit to the wall and allowing the unit to move from a raised position to a lower position in the track means to move the unit from a raised to a stowed position.

22. The caravan of claim 21, wherein the wall mounted unit is a vanity unit.

23. The caravan of claim 22, wherein a vanity cupboard is releasably coupled to the wall above the vanity unit so that the vanity cupboard can be released from the wall and stowed. H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECAPAVAN-SHW.doc 3/07/01 22

24. A collapsible caravan including; side walls; a roof, said roof being moveable from a raised position to a lowered position to facilitate collapsing of the caravan; a cupboard; pivotally coupling means for pivotally coupling the cupboard relative to a wall of the caravan so that the cupboard can be pivoted from an upright position to a lowered position. A collapsible caravan substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 3rd day of July 2001 WINDSOR CARAVANS PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK S Fellows Institute of Patent and 20 Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H: \nbourke\Keep\Speci\P38810-COLLAPSIBLECARAVANSHW.doc 3/07/01